The latest Met Office weather model shows the band of hot African air which is being described as a 'blowtorch' of heat engulfing Europe and the UK from the south.

But first we will have an afternoon of heavy rain in the county. The good news is that it will clear up and we are set to be hit with a 1,500 mile wide 'African air plume' from North Africa which will move across Southern Europe until it reaches the UK tomorrow.

On Wednesday it will be mostly dry and sunny in Devon with temperatures climbing to the mid-20s Centigrade.

Thursday is set to be the warmest day with highs of 25C predicted - making it the warmest day of the year so far.

With average maximum temperatures for April across the UK around 11.5C and around 13C for southern England, the rise in temperatures will be welcomed by many.

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Thursday’s warm blast will see parts of the country recording higher temperatures than some European destinations, including the Costa del Sol in Spain at 21C and mainland Greece at 23C.

Warm and dry conditions look likely to remain into the weekend, but it may become a little cooler, and said there could be some rain pushing in from the west by Sunday.

A spokesperson for The Weather Channel said: “High pressure over southern Scandinavia will build westwards, keeping Atlantic low pressure at bay to the west of the British Isles.

“These lows will bring unsettled weather through to Wednesday, easing as the high builds in.

“A south-westerly flow around the high will bring warm tropical and temperatures will increase gradually peaking on Thursday. It will turn drier under high pressure towards the end of the week, but as it begins to retreat over the weekend, low pressure will push in once more bringing cooler temperatures and a return to unsettled conditions.”

What are the SPF and star rating?

The sun protection factor, or SPF, is a measure of the amount of ultraviolet B radiation (UVB) protection.

SPFs are rated on a scale of 2-50+ based on the level of protection they offer, with 50+ offering the strongest form of UVB protection.

The star rating measures the amount of ultraviolet A radiation (UVA) protection. You should see a star rating of up to five stars on UK sunscreens. The higher the star rating, the better.

The letters "UVA" inside a circle is a European marking. This means the UVA protection is at least one third of the SPF value and meets EU recommendations.

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Sunscreens that offer both UVA and UVB protection are sometimes called broad spectrum.

How to apply sunscreen

Most people don't apply enough sunscreen. As a guide, adults should aim to apply around:

two teaspoons of sunscreen if you're just covering your head, arms and neck

two tablespoons if you're covering your entire body while wearing a swimming costume

If sunscreen is applied too thinly, the amount of protection it gives is reduced. If you're worried you might not be applying enough SPF15, you could use a stronger SPF30 sunscreen.

If you plan to be out in the sun long enough to risk burning, sunscreen needs to be applied twice:

30 minutes before going out

just before going out

Sunscreen should be applied to all exposed skin, including the face, neck and ears – and head if you have thinning or no hair – but a wide-brimmed hat is better.

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Sunscreen needs to be reapplied liberally and frequently, and according to the manufacturer's instructions.

This includes applying it straight after you've been in water – even if it's "water resistant" – and after towel drying, sweating, or when it may have rubbed off.

Swimming and sunscreen

Water washes sunscreen off, and the cooling effect of the water can make you think you're not getting burned. Water also reflects ultraviolet (UV) rays, increasing your exposure.

Water-resistant sunscreen is needed if sweating or contact with water is likely.

Sunscreen should be reapplied straight after you've been in water – even if it's "water resistant" – and after towel drying, sweating, or when it may have rubbed off.

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Children and sun protection

Take extra care to protect babies and children. Their skin is much more sensitive than adult skin, and damage caused by repeated exposure to sunlight could lead to skin cancer developing in later life.

Children aged under six months should be kept out of direct strong sunlight.